Mesothelioma Lawyers

A mesothelioma lawyer specializes in lawsuits involving asbestos-related diseases. Hiring a lawyer is the best way to get compensation to pay for cancer treatments, secure your family’s financial future, and hold manufacturers of asbestos products accountable for your illness. Our team can help you find a top mesothelioma attorney and walk you through every step of the legal process.

Legally reviewed by: Melissa Crowe Schopfer

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How a Mesothelioma Lawyer Can Help You

Mesothelioma lawyers help asbestos victims and family members take legal action against manufacturers of asbestos-containing products.

These large corporations hid the dangers of asbestos while millions of Americans were exposed and developed serious asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer.

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma, you deserve compensation from these negligent companies to help pay for treatment and other costs.

Experienced mesothelioma lawyers make filing a lawsuit simple and stress-free, ensuring patients and families can focus on their health and well-being while pursuing justice.

A mesothelioma lawyer can help you by:

  • Explaining your available compensation options
  • Building a case against the manufacturers that caused your illness
  • Handling every step of the legal process on your behalf
  • Getting justice for you or someone you love who’s been harmed by asbestos exposure

Our team has helped thousands of families access financial compensation with support from mesothelioma lawyers at top law firm Simmons Hanly Conroy.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, don’t wait to schedule your Free Case Review. We’ll connect you with an experienced asbestos attorney who can walk you through all your legal options.

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  • Over $30 billion available
  • No cost to file a claim
  • Avoid going to court

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Shara Fisher
Shara Fisher Senior Paralegal
17+ years providing legal help to mesothelioma victims

5 Things to Look for in a Mesothelioma Lawyer

Top asbestos lawyers have specific qualities that allow them to build the strongest possible claim for you. Learn what you should look for in an attorney below.

1. Free Case Review

An experienced lawyer for mesothelioma should offer a free case review where you can share how your illness has impacted your family.

The lawyer should be then able to explain your legal rights clearly and easily. You won’t be obligated to work with them, and anything you share will be kept confidential.

This free case review also helps you get to know the lawyer and the law firm. Think of it as a friendly conversation where you can share your concerns, ask questions, and learn whether they’re the right person to take your case.

“Filing the lawsuit was easy because my attorney made it easy. We didn’t have to do anything. We just had to be here when he was and talk to him so he could explain to us exactly how the process worked.”

John Stahl, mesothelioma survivor

2. No Upfront or Out-of-Pocket Costs

When your family is facing a mesothelioma diagnosis, the last thing you need to worry about is the cost of hiring a lawyer.

Top mesothelioma attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. In other words, they only get paid if they secure compensation for you or your family. This means there’s no financial risk to filing a mesothelioma claim with their help.

This approach takes the pressure off you and your family so you can focus on your health and well-being. If any mesothelioma lawyers you meet with charge an upfront fee, you may want to walk away and look for another option.

3. History of Getting Results

Your mesothelioma attorney should have a well-established history with many years of experience filing mesothelioma lawsuits and asbestos trust fund claims on behalf of other clients.

The best mesothelioma attorneys also understand the statute of limitations (filing deadlines) in each state and jurisdiction. This expertise means they’ll know when and where to file your legal claim to get the most amount of money in your case.

Our legal partner, Simmons Hanly Conroy, is one of the most experienced asbestos law firms in the country. They have secured over $10.2 billion in asbestos compensation for families in all 50 states.

They also have a dedicated commitment to this community. Firm founder and chairman John Simmons lost a family member to mesothelioma and has spent his career helping those with asbestos-related illnesses find financial security.

How a Mesothelioma Lawyer Can Help You Video Thumbnail

Mesothelioma lawyers can secure compensation for you or your loved ones quickly and easily following a diagnosis. Trial lawyer Daniel P. Blouin breaks down the qualities that the best lawyers have. Call us today at (866) 608-8933 to get help finding top lawyers near you. View Transcript.

Duration: 1 min 35 sec

Finding the right attorney for your mesothelioma case is vital. Trying a mesothelioma case is like trying to catch a great white shark. You cannot have a lawyer going out fishing with shoestring and a safety pin. You need to have all the preparedness in a law firm. You need to have lawyers with a vast amount of experience. You need to have lawyers with relationships with the other side so you can come to an agreeable settlement before all the trials, before all the work. You need to have a huge army of attorneys that can do the research, that know the products, that know the history, that can access the corporate histories of the companies that we’d be litigating against. And so in finding the right attorney, you need to take all that into account. You need to have a firm that is powerful enough to take on some of the largest corporations in this country. You need to have lawyers that you trust. You need to have a firm that doesn’t process you, the client, just as a cog in a machine or a widget that they’re trying to profit off of. You need people that care about you. That’s what I’d want, and that’s what we try to deliver to our clients. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Hope and Simmons Hanly Conroy can help.

4. Nationwide Reach

When you’re represented by an attorney from a national mesothelioma law firm, you’ll have an entire legal team of highly trained professionals in your corner.

You can expect access to:

  • Asbestos investigators
  • Medical experts
  • Mesothelioma lawyers
  • Paralegals
  • Registered nurses
  • Support staff

These dedicated experts will help ensure you receive the very best legal representation and support throughout the entire process.

Top mesothelioma attorneys will also meet you in person, no matter where you live, so you won’t need to travel.

“Our lawyer flew out to Scottsdale and sat with me and my sister while I was going through chemotherapy.”

Dr. Bonnie Snyder, mesothelioma survivor & Simmons Hanly Conroy client

By partnering with a trusted national firm, you’ll have the experience and reach necessary to pursue the most compensation for your mesothelioma diagnosis.

5. Access to Specialized Resources

Unlike general personal injury attorneys, the best asbestos lawyers have extensive specialized databases that help them gather critical information to build your case.

This data may include:

  • Lists of asbestos products and their manufacturers
  • Dates and locations where each company’s products were made, used, and sold
  • Confirmed exposure sites, such as factories, Navy ships, and military bases
  • Which asbestos companies are still in business and which have filed for bankruptcy
  • Verified statements from other victims of asbestos exposure

With these powerful resources, asbestos lawyers can create a compelling case on your behalf. This expertise is especially important if you don’t know where you were exposed to asbestos or think you may have been exposed in more than one place.

“Not only do we have the resources to get the best results for somebody in a terrible situation, but every person they’re going to encounter genuinely cares about that person, their health, and their family.”

Jennifer Alesio, partner asbestos attorney at Simmons Hanly Conroy

How to Choose the Best Mesothelioma Lawyer

If you’re meeting with several different asbestos lawsuit lawyers, you need to understand what sets them apart.

You and your family should feel comfortable with your attorney and trust them to handle your case with experience and compassion.

You’ll also want to learn more about their strengths and expertise — including how experienced they are with asbestos claims, how much money their past clients have received, and how long their cases typically take to resolve.

Consider asking questions like:

  • How many mesothelioma cases have you handled?
  • Do you specialize in asbestos litigation?
  • What is your average time to resolution in mesothelioma cases?
  • How many of your mesothelioma cases were settled, and how many went to trial?

Get more questions like these to help you guide your mesothelioma attorney search by downloading our Free Attorney Checklist.

Mesothelioma Attorney Questions Checklist
Free Attorney Checklist

Download our free list of 10 questions to ask when choosing a mesothelioma attorney.

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Types of Legal Claims Mesothelioma Lawyers Handle

Mesothelioma lawyers handle several different types of asbestos claims and can help you decide which to file to maximize your compensation.

Here’s a quick rundown of each:

  • Personal injury lawsuits are filed by mesothelioma victims to seek compensation from the companies responsible for their illnesses.
  • Wrongful death lawsuits are filed by spouses, family members, or estate representatives to pursue compensation on behalf of a loved one who passed away from mesothelioma.
  • VA benefits allow veterans with mesothelioma to get monthly payments and medical care from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Those who already receive VA benefits can still file lawsuits or asbestos trust fund claims to pursue compensation.
  • Asbestos trust fund claims allow victims to access compensation set aside by product manufacturers that went out of business.

More than $30 billion is available in asbestos trust funds as of 2025. Mesothelioma Hope can help you access some of this money without going to court. See if you qualify for trust fund compensation right now.

Payouts Secured by Mesothelioma Attorneys

Mesothelioma patients who work with an experienced lawyer to file an asbestos lawsuit may receive compensation through a settlement or trial verdict. Nearly all mesothelioma lawsuits end in a settlement, meaning you never have to step inside a courthouse.

On average, mesothelioma settlements award clients between $1 million and $1.4 million.

In the rare event a settlement can’t be reached, the case will go to court, where a judge or jury will decide whether to award you compensation through a verdict. The average mesothelioma trial verdict ranges from $5 million to $11.4 million.

  • $30 billion has been set aside in asbestos trust funds to pay mesothelioma victims
  • $1 million to $1.4 million average settlement amount
  • $9.6+ billion recovered for families by Simmons Hanly Conroy
  • $5 million to $11.4 million average verdict amount

Simmons Hanly Conroy, Mealey’s® Litigation Report: Asbestos, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office

Our partner law firm, Simmons Hanly Conroy, has a long history in asbestos litigation. The firm’s mesothelioma trial attorneys have secured some of the largest results in history.

Notable compensation secured by the mesothelioma lawsuit lawyers at Simmons Hanly Conroy include:

  • $250 million verdict for an Indiana steelworker with mesothelioma (highest on record)
  • $107 million verdict for the family of a California janitor who died from mesothelioma
  • $60 million verdict to the family of a late New York laborer with mesothelioma
  • $34 million verdict to a California mechanic diagnosed with mesothelioma
  • $12 million settlement for an Illinois laborer who developed mesothelioma
  • $8 million settlement to a pipefitter from Texas with mesothelioma

Many clients start receiving compensation within 90 days when working with our partner lawyers.

“What I tell people is that the financial freedom that came from filing a lawsuit was the one good thing that came out of something bad. It’s made the time I have left even better.”

Art Putt, mesothelioma survivor

What Legal Compensation Can Pay For

When an attorney helps you and your family get compensation from a mesothelioma claim, you are free to do anything you wish with it.

Some estimates suggest the total cost of treating mesothelioma is around $400,000 per year, and that doesn’t include travel costs and other out-of-pocket expenses.

You shouldn’t have to bear the financial costs of a mesothelioma diagnosis. Mesothelioma compensation secured by asbestos lawyers can help relieve financial stress so you can focus on spending time with your loved ones and getting the treatments you need.

Many clients have used compensation for:

  • Costs of ongoing care
  • Daily living expenses
  • Donations to charities
  • Medical bills
  • Lost income while caring for a loved one
  • Vacations with family to rest and recharge

Finding a knowledgeable mesothelioma attorney can make all the difference in the amount of compensation you could get from a legal claim. Download our Free Attorney Checklist to help guide your search for a lawyer.

Mesothelioma Attorney Questions Checklist
Free Attorney Checklist

Download our free list of 10 questions to ask when choosing a mesothelioma attorney.

Get Your Free Checklist

Steps to Working With a Mesothelioma Lawyer

Your lawyer and their team will dedicate themselves to your legal claim so you can focus on getting treatment and being with family. Although no two asbestos cases are the same, most mesothelioma claims follow a similar process.

1. Establish a Relationship With a Lawyer in Your State

The first step for filing an asbestos claim is hiring a mesothelioma cancer lawyer you trust. There are countless names to choose from, but it’s important to find the right fit for you.

We can help you find experienced mesothelioma lawyers near you.

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2. Identify the Companies at Fault

An experienced mesothelioma attorney can track down when and where you were exposed to asbestos — even if you don’t remember. Most mesothelioma cases result from asbestos exposure that happened 10-50 years ago.

“We typically file against product manufacturers and property owners for the breach of their duty: for exposing our clients to asbestos through the sale of their products or through the delivery of their products.”

Daniel P. Blouin, top mesothelioma lawyer and legal partner of Mesothelioma Hope

Top mesothelioma attorneys have access to databases of asbestos companies, products, and job sites that they can use to identify which manufacturers should be held liable in your case.

3. File Your Mesothelioma Claim

A mesothelioma lawyer will discuss all of your legal options and determine the best type(s) of claim to file.

You may be eligible for compensation from more than one asbestos company, increasing the value of your claim.

The best mesothelioma lawyers will know when to file your claim based on any statutes of limitations that could affect your case.

4. Get Compensation for Your Family

Most lawyers for mesothelioma pursue compensation through mesothelioma settlements and/or asbestos trust fund claims.

Mesothelioma compensation can be used for anything, including daily living costs, medical expenses, and other needs or wants.

More than 99% of mesothelioma claims result in an out-of-court settlement with an average payout between $1 million and $1.4 million.

Mesothelioma settlements also give clients and their families access to compensation sooner, often in as few as 90 days.

Get Help Finding a Mesothelioma Lawyer

With so many choices available for a mesothelioma lawyer, it can be overwhelming to know where to start your search. But we’re here to assist you in finding the right fit and getting compensation for your family.

We can help you:

  • Evaluate your options for compensation
  • Find a mesothelioma asbestos lawyer you feel comfortable with
  • Know which questions to ask when meeting with an attorney
  • Obtain financial security for your family

Call us at (866) 608-8933 or get a Free Case Review today to get started.

Mesothelioma Attorneys FAQs

What is an asbestos lawyer?

An asbestos lawyer is a legal professional who helps those with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, file lawsuits. Asbestos lawyers also represent people hurt by other asbestos-related diseases.

These lawyers fight for asbestos victims’ legal rights and help them seek justice and compensation for their life-changing illnesses.

By partnering with an asbestos cancer attorney, you’ll benefit not only from their legal expertise, but you’ll have a compassionate ally who understands the physical, emotional, and financial toll this disease takes on you and your loved ones.

If you’re ready to take the next step, schedule a Free Case Review at a time that works best for you and your loved ones. We’re here to help guide you through the process.

When should I contact a mesothelioma attorney?

You should reach out to a mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible.

It’s important not to wait long before pursuing mesothelioma attorney assistance. Deadlines called statutes of limitations set narrow time frames for filing a mesothelioma claim and pursuing justice.

Contacting a mesothelioma attorney now will help keep you from missing any important deadlines to pursue compensation.

What if I can’t afford a mesothelioma attorney?

It doesn’t cost anything upfront to hire a mesothelioma attorney.

The best mesothelioma lawyers take clients on a contingency basis, which means they only get paid an agreed-upon percentage of any compensation you receive from a settlement or verdict.

Don’t let financial worries over mesothelioma lawyer fees prevent you from seeking the legal representation you need and deserve. Call us today at (866) 608-8933 to learn more about your options and take the first step toward seeking compensation.

How do I find top rated mesothelioma lawyers?

Choosing a lawyer with decades of experience handling mesothelioma claims will give you the best chance of receiving financial compensation.

Top mesothelioma lawyers have specialized resources to pinpoint the details of your asbestos exposure and identify which companies to file claims with.

Ask them to share past results from similar cases so you can find the best mesothelioma lawyer for your situation.

How can I find a mesothelioma attorney near me?

Mesothelioma Hope can help you find lawyers in your area who have a successful track record of helping victims and their surviving loved ones access compensation.

Request a Free Case Review to share your story, get your questions answered, and learn what you can do next.

Do I have to travel to meet asbestos cancer lawyers?

No, you won’t have to travel. National asbestos law firms will send an attorney to meet with you in person or set up a virtual appointment. Your spouse or family members are always welcome to attend.

This allows you to prioritize your health while your lawyer takes care of all the details, making the process as convenient and stress-free as possible.

How do I prove that I was exposed to asbestos?

You don’t have to worry about proving your asbestos exposure — your lawyer will handle it all.

Experienced mesothelioma and asbestos lawyers can access product databases, legal records, and other resources to track down where and how you were exposed. They will gather the evidence, build a strong case, and do everything necessary to prove liability.

Attorney Melissa Crowe SchopferReviewed by:Melissa Crowe Schopfer

Partner, Simmons Hanly Conroy

  • Fact-Checked
  • Legal Editor

Melissa Crowe Schopfer is a partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy. Over the past 10 years, Melissa has worked on over 500 cases and recovered more than $100 million in settlements and trial verdicts on behalf of her clients. She has represented families impacted by mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases in almost every state.

  • Asbestos Trial Team Leader
  • Practicing Attorney for 15+ Years
  • Has Recovered Over $100 Million
Laura WrightWritten by:

Lead Editor

Laura Wright is a journalist and content strategist with more than 17 years of professional experience. She attended college at the University of Florida, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2008. Her writing has been featured in The Gainesville Sun and other regional publications throughout Florida.

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References
  1. Carroll, S., et al. (2005). Asbestos Litigation [PDF file]. Santa Monica, CA: Rand Institute for Civil Justice. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2005/RAND_MG162.sum.pdf
  2. Dixon, L., & McGovern, G. (2011, August 18). Bankruptcy trusts, asbestos compensation, and the courts. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9603.html
  3. Mealey’s. (2021, July 30). Mealey’s litigation report: asbestos. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://www.lexislegalnews.com/articles/65302/asbestos-verdicts-settlements-january-2020-december-2020
  4. The National Law Review. (2022, August 6). Law Firm Specialization: Why It Matters. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://www.natlawreview.com/article/law-firm-specialization-why-it-matters
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